We are pleased to announce the second Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory meeting on Biology & Genomics of Social Insects. The meeting will begin on the evening of Saturday May 5, 2018, and end after lunch on Tuesday May 8. The 2018 meeting will discuss recent advances in social insects, with an emphasis on new findings made possible by the sequencing of the genomes and transcriptomes of dozens of species (ants, bees, wasps, termites). This range allows, for the first time, a convergence of knowledge about the molecular basis and mechanisms of sociality in taxa that evolved sociality independently. Topics of this meeting are comparative and functional genomics of caste determination, division of labor, phenotypic plasticity, learning, physiology and immunity. There will be two special sessions on microbiomes and immunity in social insects with an emphasis on honey bees. The meeting is intended to provide a format for the exchange of ideas and information, to discuss the latest research findings and technical advances, and to facilitate interaction among groups active in diverse systems.

Topics:

Comparative Genomics of Insect Sociality

Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, and Social Organization

Molecular Evolution of Insect Societies

Neurobiology and Physiology of Social Insects

Novel Techniques and Bioinformatic Advances and their Applications to Social Insect Biology

Social Insect Microbiomes and Immunity

Keynote Speaker:

Jacobus “Koos” Boomsma, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Christina Grozinger, Pennsylvania State University

Speakers:

Seth Barribeau, University of Liverpool, UK
Andrew Barron, Macquarie University, AustraliaRoberto Bonasio, University of Pennsylvania
Heikki Helantera, University of Helsinki, Finland
Karen Kapheim, Utah State University
Daniel Kronauer, Rockefeller University
Nancy Moran, University of Texas, Austin
Jessica Purcell, University of California, Riverside
Amy Toth, Iowa State University
Guojie Zhang, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstracts should contain new and unpublished material. Selection of material for oral and poster presentation will be made by the organizers and individual session chairs. Please bring this notice to the attention of any of your colleagues who may be interested in participating in the meeting.

All registrations and abstracts must be submitted by the abstract deadline, February 23, 2018. Status (talk/poster) of abstracts will be posted on our web site as soon as decisions have been made by the organizers.

We look forward to seeing you at Cold Spring Harbor in May.

This conference is supported in part by:

This support allows us to provide partial stipends to graduate students and postdocs submitting abstracts Please send requests for financial aid to Maureen Morrow

Regular packages are all-inclusive and cover registration, food, housing, parking, a wine-and-cheese party, and a lobster banquet. No-Housing packages include all costs except housing. Full payment is due 4 weeks prior to the meeting.

All questions pertaining to registration, fees, housing, meals, transportation, visas, abstract submission, or any other matters may be directed to Maureen Morrow.